title: [Training programs for staff at local Infectious Disease Surveillance Centers: the needs and usefulness].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess the need for and usefulness of training programs for Local Infectious Disease Surveillance Center (LIDSC) staff.
  
  
  METHODS
  A structured questionnaire survey was conducted to assess the needs and usefulness of training programs. The subjects of the survey were participants of a workshop held after an annual conference for the LIDSC staff. Data on demographic information, the necessity of training programs for LIDSC staff, the themes and contents of the training program, self-assessment of knowledge on epidemiology and statistics were covered by the questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 55 local government officials responded to the questionnaire (response rate: 100%). Among these, 95% of participants believed that the training program for the LIDSC staff was necessary. Basic statistical analysis (85%), descriptive epidemiology (65%), outline of epidemiology (60%), interpretation of surveillance data (65%), background and objectives of national infectious disease surveillance in Japan (60%), methods of field epidemiology (60%), and methods of analysis data (51%) were selected by over half of the respondents as suitable themes for training programs. A total of 34 LIDSC staff answered the self-assessment question on knowledge of epidemiology. A majority of respondents selected "a little" or "none" for all questions about knowledge. Only a few respondents had received education in epidemiology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicate that LIDSC staff have basic demands for fundamental and specialized education to improve their work. Considering the current situation regarding the capacity of LIDSC staff, these training programs should be started immediately.
authors.affiliation: Gunma Prefectural Center for Infectious Disease, Gunma Prefectural Institute of Public Health and Environmental Sciences.
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kamiya
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yahata
authors.forename: Yukie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ozeki
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nadaoka
authors.forename: Yoshiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.forename: Takesumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: Tomoe
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tada
authors.forename: Komei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shirabe
authors.forename: Kunihisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kozawa
mesh_terms: D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D004496:Education, Continuing; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan